Sofia Synagogue Ranked Among World's Most Beautiful Temples

The Sofia synagogue is ranked among the 19 most beautiful houses of worship in the world by the Architectural Digest magazine.

The Sofia synagogue is in the company of temples of all major world faiths - both old and new - in classical and modern style.

“Austro-Hungarian architect Friedrich Grunanger combined Moorish, Vienna Secessionist, and Venetian elements in the design of the Sofia Synagogue, the largest Sephardic synagogue in the Balkans”, writes the magazine. “Built in 1909, the domed building is bordered by eight towers, and its splendid interiors include Venetian mosaics and marble columns. The building was badly damaged during bombings in 1944 and its renowned Judaica library was destroyed. The synagogue was restored in honor of its 100th anniversary with funding from the World Monuments Fund.”

According to its official website, the Sofia synagogue is the second-largest Sephradic synagogue in Europe.

Its construction started in 1905, after the Jewish community in Bulgaria had been reorganized on the French Consistoire model. It was led by the Chief Rabbi, Marcus Ehrenpreis, and the leaders of the Sofia Jewish community Ezra Tadjer and the venerable Avram Davidjon Levy.

The site selected was in the city center on the property occupied by' the very old synagogue "Ahava i Hesed" (Heb. Love and Kindness).

The famous brass chandelier weighing over 2200 kg, the large candelabra (Heb. menorah), and other decorations were imported from Vienna.

Since it opened, the Sofia synagogue has held prayer services except for the year 1943-44 when most of the Jews of Sofia were deported to the countryside. Apart from being damaged by the bombings of the Allies in WWII, the Sofia synagogue hasn't been otherwise desecrated, though Bulgaria was an ally of Germany.

The Sofia Synagogue is ranked at the 16-th position in the list of Architectural Digest, preceded by the Sri Ranganathaswamy temple in Tamil Nadu, India and is followed by the Szeged synagogue in Hungary. First on the list is the Borgund Stavechurch in Norway.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!